The Golden Temple is the holiest of Sikh shrines and the crown jewel of Amritsar, an important city in the northern state of Punjab in India. If you’re planning on visiting the Golden Temple in Amritsar or can say Harmandir Sahib, read on to learn some fascinating facts about this stunning religious structure, including what it signifies and why so many people make the pilgrimage there every year.
If you need to stay close to the Golden Temple during your visit, don’t worry—there are plenty of great hotels nearby with access to amenities like free wifi and breakfast.
Sri Harmandir Sahib translates to mean House of God. It serves as a place where everyone can come together in their purest form; people of any religion or belief system are welcome, as are members of different castes and creeds. Visitors who seek spiritual growth walk around and meditate in circles around Holy Lake that surrounds the temple, praying all while facing east.
Golden Temple Sacred Pond Or Sarovar
The Golden Temple sacred pond or Sarovar (also known as Amrit Sarovar or Amritsar Lake) is located inside the Sikh shrine Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar, Punjab. The sacred pond also forms an important part of Sikh history and is a very popular tourist destination in India.
Guru-Ka-Langar – World’s Largest Free Kitchen
Guru-Ka-Langar (meaning Servant of God’s Kitchen) is a communal kitchen where people from all over the world can share a meal. Free food is served here 24 hours a day to anyone, regardless of religious background or economic status. The food is vegetarian and served on silver plates.
Diwali celebration at Golden Temple
Diwali is a popular Hindu holiday celebrated all over India. It falls on different dates every year depending on which lunar calendar you use, but it’s generally observed in October or November (also coinciding with the Halloween season). Diwali at Amritsar’s Golden Temple is a time for celebration, and of course, light! Aside from its more solemn spiritual significance to Hindus around the world, Diwali offers opportunities for feasting and family gatherings.
Daily Ceremonies of Golden temple: Prakash(opening ritual)
The daily ceremonies at Golden Temple begin with Prakash (dawn), which signals that Sikhs throughout Punjab are preparing to bathe and prepare for their visits to Darbar Sahib. Prakash is a short ceremony at approximately 4:30 AM, after which Guru Granth Sahib Ji is opened and read. The first of five bands read in each of Amritsar’s palkis(Sikh prayer halls) is Anand Sahib.
Interesting Facts About Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib):
What Is The Name Of Four Gates Of Golden Temple?
Sri Harmandir Sahib is a holy shrine for the Sikhs, but it draws people of all faiths. Known as the Golden Temple, the shrine features four entrances on each side called the four gates-the Ghantaghar, Baba Atal, Saraiwla, and Thada Saheb.
Each gate depicts a different part of Sikh scripture, known as the Guru Granth Sahib. People visit from all over the world to pay their respects to Sri Harmandir Sahib; some also visit while they are travelling in India. For those staying in Amritsar or visiting one of Amritsar’s best hotels near Sri Harmandir Sahib, getting to and from the temple is easy and convenient.
Why is Golden Temple called Harmandir Sahib?
Some people get confused that why is Harmandir Sahib called Golden Temple? Why not White Temple or Red Temple? The colour of Sri Harmandir Sahib is golden, not white, and not red. This is because when we look at our own body, the first thing we get attracted to is gold which is associated with our head (brain). When you visit Harmandir Sahib, your focus should be on meditation and devotion so God gives you golden colour.
Is Golden Temple Made Of Gold?
That’s right—each of its gilded walls and domes, as well as hundreds of statues within it, are made from 24-karat gold. The Golden Temple, also known as Sri Harmandir Sahib, was built in honour of Guru Ram Das, who founded Amritsar nearly 500 years ago.
The whole shrine is entirely gold-plated, including its floors and domes. Still, locals refer to it as the Golden Temple (much like other parts of India refer to a white marble structure as the Taj Mahal) out of respect for what it stands for.
Why was the Golden Temple built?
The Golden Temple was built to house the Eternal Holy Scripture of the Sikhs, Sri Guru Granth Sahib. Sri Harmandir Sahib (literal translation: The Abode of God), or the Golden Temple as it is commonly known, was built in 1574 CE by the 4th Sikh Guru and first sovereign of the Sikh Empire, Guru Ram Das Ji.
Why are there 4 doors in a Gurdwara?
Sri Harmandir Sahib (Amritsar Golden Temple) has four doors because it is open to all people regardless of race, colour, creed, gender, or economic status. It was built by Guru Ram Das as a place where no one would be turned away due to their faith. This principle of equality means that Sikhs should treat everyone they meet as they would want to be treated themselves and help anyone in need, regardless of their faith.
Golden Temple Timings
Golden Temple Amritsar remains open 24 hours. A large majority of visitors, who arrive at Amritsar to see the Golden Temple, mostly visit in the early hours. Because of this, they sometimes get restricted entry during peak hours. It is also better to avoid visiting Golden Temple during the rainy season because all temples become overflow with rainwater.
The best time to visit Amritsar Golden Temple is either in the morning or evening at 1 PM. The best way to start a day sightseeing around the golden temple is by starting with Golden temple Amritsar timings because most of them start their day seeing sacred and holy Gurdwara sahib – Sri Harmandir Sahib Ji.
How to reach Golden Temple
There are two ways to get to The Golden Temple. If you’re in a hurry, take a taxi from your hotel or pick up an auto-rickshaw from outside. Both options should be easy and inexpensive—just make sure you specify that you want to go to The Golden Temple and not just Amritsar or Golden Temple Hotel or the big temple, otherwise they may take you somewhere else.
From Amritsar Railway station, it should cost less than Rs 100 unless there is a festival going on then it could be double what you would normally pay (most taxis use their meters). The long way is to take a local bus or rickshaw – but if time isn’t of utmost importance, I recommend doing so!
Golden Temple Amritsar Room Booking
The best way to explore Golden temple Amritsar is to book a room near the golden temple at Hotel Hari Palace. The Amritsar golden temple near the hotel is situated in heart of Amritsar, which makes visiting places easier. Whether you want to stay for a night or two, we can help make your stay memorable by providing you with top-notch services and amenities.
In fact, you can also explore Jallianwala Bagh while touring the Golden Temple in Amritsar. The place is a bit hotter in summer, so, I would recommend visiting the Jallianwala Bagh between October to November and February to March.
Jallianwala Bagh Massacre
JallianWala Bagh is a large public garden, adjacent to Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar. The ground was previously used as a private bagh (garden) by Sir Ganga Ram, a prominent figure in colonial Punjab. He later donated it to be used as a public garden.
The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre took place here on 13 April 1919 when troops of the British Indian Army under Colonel Reginald Dyer fired at thousands of unarmed protesters, killing hundreds and injuring more than 1,200 people. Though known locally, there is no reference to Jallianwala Bagh on any map of Amritsar or in any history book on India published in Britain before 1919.
